the nature of knowledge
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 2
The Nature of Knowledge
Chapter Objectives
• Understand the difference between knowledge, data, and information
• Explain the alternative views of knowledge• Understand the different types of knowledge• Recognize the various locations of knowledge
What is Data?
• Data comprises facts, observations, or perceptions
• Data represents raw numbers or assertions
What is Information?
• Information is processed data• Information is a subset of data, only including
those data that possess context, relevance and purpose
• Information involves manipulation of raw data
What is Knowledge?
• A justified true belief (Nonaka and Takeuchi)• It is different from data & information• Knowledge is at the highest level in a hierarchy
with information at the middle level, and data to be at the lowest level
• It is the richest, deepest & most valuable of the three
• Information with direction
Data, Information, and Knowledge
InformationData
Zero Low Medium High Very High
Value
Knowledge
Data, Information, and Knowledge:Example
H T H T TH H H T H
…T T T H T
pH = 0.40pT = 0.60RH = +$10RT = -$8
nH = 40nT = 60
InformationData
Zero Low Medium High Very High
Value
Knowledge
EV = -$0.80
CountingpH = nH/(nH+nT)pT = nT/(nH+nT)
EV=pH RH+ pT RT
Data, Information, Knowledge and Events
Knowledge
InformationData Information System
Decision
Events
Use ofinformation
Know
ledge
Subjective View of knowledge
• Knowledge as State of Mind• Knowledge as Practice
Objective View of knowledge
• Knowledge as Objects• Knowledge as Access to Information• Knowledge as Capability
Types of Knowledge
• Individual, social, causal, conditional, relational and pragmatic
• Embodied, encoded and procedural
Procedural and Declarative Knowledge
• Declarative knowledge (substantive knowledge) focuses on beliefs about relationships among variables
• Procedural knowledge focuses on beliefs relating sequences of steps or actions to desired (or undesired) outcomes
Tacit and Explicit Knowledge
• Tacit knowledge includes insights, intuitions, and hunches
• Explicit knowledge refers to knowledge that has been expressed into words and numbers
• We can convert explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge
General and Specific Knowledge
• General knowledge is possessed by a large number of individuals and can be transferred easily across individuals
• Specific knowledge, or “idiosyncratic knowledge,” is possessed by a very limited number of individuals, and is expensive to transfer
Technically and Contextually Specific Knowledge
• Technically specific knowledge is deep knowledge about a specific area
• Contextually specific knowledge knowledge refers to the knowledge of particular circumstances of time and place in which work is to be performed
Illustrations of the Different Types of Knowledge
Knowledge and Expertise
• Expertise can be defined as knowledge of higher quality
• An “expert” is one who is able to perform a task much better than others
Types of Expertise
• Associational Expertise • Motor Skills Expertise• Theoretical (Deep) Expertise
Types of Knowledge
• Simple knowledge focuses on one basic area • Complex knowledge draws upon multiple distinct areas
of expertise • Support knowledge relates to organizational
infrastructure and facilitates day-to-day operations • Tactical knowledge pertains to the short-term positioning
of the organization relative to its markets, competitors, and suppliers
• Strategic knowledge pertains to the long-term positioning of the organization in terms of its corporate vision and strategies for achieving that vision
Organizational Entities
People
Knowledge Reservoirs
Groups
Individuals Organizational Units
Inter-organizational Networks
Organizations
Artifacts
Practices RepositoriesTechnologies
Reservoirs of Knowledge
Characteristics of Knowledge
• Explicitness• Codifiability• Teachability• Knowledge Specificity
Conclusions
• Knowledge is different from data & information• Knowledge in an area can be defined as justified
beliefs about relationships among concepts relevant to that particular area
• Knowledge can be of different types• Knowledge has several characteristics• Knowledge resides is several different places
Chapter 2
The Nature of Knowledge